Undergraduate, Full-time

Work with our industry and research experienced lecturers on a range of projects to build your skills, making you adaptable and employable

Overview

Studying this course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the role digital media and interaction design plays within our lives, exploring how people use and respond to emerging technology and media.

You’ll be equipped with adaptable practical and theoretical skills to allow you to design for current and future trends, whether you are creating for screen-based media, interactive experiences or physical computing.

During your studies you will be supported to create a portfolio of work, make links with industry and undertake optional work placement or study abroad options. We use industry standard packages in specialist Mac and PC labs.

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Aga Banach

Course details

This course will help you develop a comprehensive knowledge of the technologies involved in the creation and delivery of digital media.

You will gain an appreciation of the theory, application and cultural context for the use and development of new media, giving you confidence to critique and explore new areas as they are developed.

During your studies, you will gain expertise in the use of computer-based authoring tools to create audio, video, 2D and 3D media, as well as exploring physical computing and human computer interaction.

In years three and four you will continue to build your knowledge, choosing a specialist route and focusing your areas of expertise whilst developing own authentic style.

In year four your independent project will allow you to develop your critical understanding, researching topics at the forefront of interactive and digital media, and culminating in a dissertation and a major media project . You will also focus on portfolio and career development ready for your next steps.

How you’ll be taught
Lectures and tutorials

Assessments
Assessments for this course are mostly practical course works accompanied by reports, along with some modules with exams. The honours projects is a practical project and reflection accompanied by a 5000 word dissertation.

Work placement
A one year supervised work experience is available, intended to develop overall graduate attributes and employability. The School has committed resources to developing employment opportunities in conjunction with Student and Academic Services. This experience takes place in Year 3, conditional upon the student being accepted by an employer on an approved work based placement. This must be established in Year 2 by consultation with the School Placement Coordinator. If this option is chosen, your course duration will be extended by a semester.

Study abroad
The School has a number of agreements with overseas partner Higher Education institutions, both in the EU and further afield; and this means that should you wish, you may have the opportunity to study abroad in the first or second trimester of the third year. These opportunities are organised on an individual basis by the University’s International Support & Exchanges Team. We currently have established links with European universities in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden plus International universities in USA, Canada and Australia where relevant programmes are delivered in English.

Popular modules

Year 1

Experiencing the Digital City

Being Digital

Digital Imaging

Programming for Interactive Media & Design

Producing Digital

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

Year 2

Practical Interaction Design

Digital Video Development

Visual Design for Digital Media

Playful Interaction

2D Computer Animation

Sound Theory

Year 3

In year 3 you will choose to specialise in either Concept and Production or Interaction Design.

Digital Storytelling

3D Modelling

Motion Graphics

Design Thinking and Doing

3D Animation

Visual Effects

Ubiquitous Computing

Scripting for Interactive Media

Responsive Environments

Cyberpsychology

Work Based Learning

Year 4

Honours Project

Professional Identity through Portfolio Development

Scripting for Interactive Media

Creative Computing Internship

Experiential Design

Visual Effects Storytelling

User Experience

Creative Computing

Starting a New Business

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements indicate the minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Minimum year 1

SQA Higher

Typical Entry Requirement

BBBB to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication

National 5 Grade C in English.

Adjusted Offer Entry Requirement

BBCC to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication

National 5 grade C in English.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet specific widening participation criteria as outlined in our contextual admissions policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

A Level

CCC to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

Irish Leaving Certificate

Pre-2017 Grading System:

B1, B1, B3, B3 at Higher Level to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication

Ordinary Level English at C2.

New Grading System:

H2, H2, H3, H3 at Higher Level to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication

Ordinary Level English at O4.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

Minimum grades DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a related subject

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

BTEC Diploma

Minimum grades D*D (Distinction*, Distinction) in a related subject

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Award of Diploma with 28 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6, 5, 4 to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication at minimum grade 5.

Grade 4 in SL English.

European Baccalaureate

Pass at 70% or above with grade 7 in three subjects to include one of the following subjects: Design, Art & Design, Music, Photography, Media or Graphic Communication.

Grade 6 in English.

Minimum year 2

HNC

Pass HNC in a related subject with Grade A in the graded unit.

Minimum year 3

HND

Pass HND in a related subject with grades B at SCQF Level 8 in the graded unit(s).

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

RUK Students starting in 2018/19 will be invoiced the 2018/19 fee for 3 years of their 4 years of study. Students starting in 2019/20 will be invoiced the 2019/20 fee for 3 years of their 4 years of study.